Process Wheel Insert Mechanism for Continuous Multipiece Rejoining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for multipiece objects, such as containers or packaging, require cyclic processes for opening and closing, which limits process speed due to mechanical complexity and drive power requirements for accelerated and decelerated movements.
Innovation Solution
A device for continuously separating, treating, and rejoining multipiece objects, featuring a process wheel with concentric receiving rings for bottom and cover pieces, a separating device, and an insert device with compensation play for speed adaptation, allowing continuous operation without intermittent cycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cyclic processes are used for opening and closing multipiece objects, then the objects can be processed in traditional batch mode, but the process speed is limited due to mechanical complexity and drive power requirements for accelerated and decelerated movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous operation by eliminating the cyclic start-stop pattern. The process wheel rotates continuously, and the insert device maintains constant rotational speed. Bottom pieces and cover pieces are fed continuously into the process wheel without interruption, allowing the system to operate at sustained high speeds without the mechanical complexity of repeated acceleration and deceleration cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic speed adaptation through the compensation play mechanism. The insert device can adjust its rotational speed relative to the process wheel, allowing smooth synchronization of bottom pieces and cover pieces without abrupt changes. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for complex mechanical braking and acceleration systems while maintaining continuous operation.
2Productivity
If cyclic processes with accelerated and decelerated movements are used, then multipiece objects can be opened and closed, but corresponding mechanical complexity and drive power are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous rotational motion of the process wheel and insert device, eliminating the need for repeated power-intensive acceleration and deceleration cycles. The continuous operation allows the drive system to operate at a steady, optimized power level rather than experiencing peak power demands during cyclic start-stop operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation play mechanism enables dynamic speed matching between the insert device and process wheel through passive mechanical means rather than active power control. This reduces the power required for speed synchronization by using inertial coupling and elastic elements instead of powered actuators.
3Productivity
If bottom pieces and cover pieces are transported on concentric receiving rings with different radii, then space utilization is improved, but speed synchronization becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The insert device serves as a dynamic speed adapter between the separating device and the process wheel. It can rotate at a different speed than the process wheel, allowing bottom pieces and cover pieces to be synchronized in speed and phase before being inserted into the concentric receiving rings. This dynamic intermediate stage simplifies the speed synchronization problem despite the different radii of the receiving rings.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the separating device and the process wheel. It receives bottom pieces and cover pieces, synchronizes their speeds, and then transfers them to the process wheel. This intermediary function decouples the speed requirements of the separating device from those of the process wheel, making the system more manageable despite the concentric ring configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for separating, treating and rejoining objects includes a process wheel for transporting bottom and cover pieces of the objects, a separating device, and an insert device for inserting the pieces in the process wheel. The process wheel has a first lower receiving ring with a first radius and a second upper receiving ring with a second smaller radius which are jointly rotatable as a unit. A wheel assembly is arranged between the separating device and the process wheel. The wheel assembly has a first lower wheel with bottom holders distributed around the periphery and a second upper wheel with cover holders for the cover pieces distributed around the periphery. The bottom holders and/or the cover holders in the circumferential direction are larger than the received bottom pieces or cover pieces such that, in operation, they surround the bottom or cover pieces with a compensation play.